Ezekiel 31

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 31

1¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?

3Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.

4The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.

5Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.

6All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.

7Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.

8The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.

9I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that [were] in the garden of God, envied him.

10¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;

11I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.

12And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.

13Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:

14To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.

15Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.

17They also went down into hell with him unto [them that be] slain with the sword; and [they that were] his arm, [that] dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword. This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD compares Pharaoh's greatness to Assyria, depicted as a magnificent cedar in Lebanon that grew tall and provided shelter for many nations. However, due to its pride in its exalted height, God brought it down, cut off by foreign powers and cast into the nether parts of the earth. This serves as a direct warning to Pharaoh, indicating that he and his multitude will suffer a similar fate, being brought low among the slain.

Medium Summary

In Ezekiel 31, the prophet is commanded to speak to Pharaoh, comparing his grandeur to the once-mighty Assyrian empire, depicted as a majestic cedar in Lebanon. This cedar grew to immense height, nourished by abundant waters, and its branches provided shelter for all creatures and nations, even envied by the trees of Eden. Yet, because of its pride and self-exaltation, the Lord God delivered Assyria into the hands of powerful foreign nations, who cut it down. Its fall caused a cosmic mourning, and it was cast down to the nether parts of the earth. The chapter concludes by asking Pharaoh if he is truly like this glorious cedar, then declares that he too, with all his multitude, will be brought down to lie among the slain in the pit.

Long Summary

The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel, instructing him to address Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his multitude, questioning whom he resembles in his greatness. The Lord then presents a detailed parable, likening the Assyrian empire to a magnificent cedar in Lebanon. This cedar was of immense stature, with fair branches and a shadowing shroud, its top reaching among the thick boughs, made great by abundant waters and rivers. Its height surpassed all other trees, its boughs multiplied, and its branches extended widely, providing shelter for all fowls of heaven and beasts of the field, and its shadow for great nations. Its beauty was so profound that even the cedars in the garden of God envied it. However, because this cedar lifted itself up in height and its heart was exalted in its grandeur, the Lord God delivered it into the hand of a mighty foreign power. Strangers, the most terrible of nations, cut it off, causing its branches to fall and its boughs to break, and all the people who once dwelt under its shadow departed. This destruction served as a warning, lest any other tree by the waters exalt itself, for all are destined for death and the nether parts of the earth. The Lord describes a cosmic mourning at its descent to the grave, with the deep covered, floods restrained, and Lebanon itself mourning. Nations shook at its fall as it was cast down to hell, and those who were once under its protection also descended with it. The chapter concludes with a direct challenge to Pharaoh, asking if he is truly like this glorious cedar, then unequivocally stating that he and his multitude will likewise be brought down to the nether parts of the earth, to lie among the uncircumcised slain by the sword.

Core Concepts

  • Pride and Self-ExaltationThe downfall of the Assyrian cedar is explicitly attributed to its pride, having 'lifted up thyself in height' and its 'heart is lifted up in his height,' which directly provokes divine judgment.
  • Divine Judgment of NationsGod demonstrates His sovereignty by actively bringing down powerful nations, represented by the cedar, when they become arrogant, using other nations as instruments of His will.
  • The Cedar MetaphorAssyria is powerfully depicted as a majestic cedar in Lebanon, symbolizing its immense power, beauty, and wide-reaching influence, providing shelter and dominance over many.
  • Descent to the NetherworldThe fallen cedar, representing Assyria, is cast down to 'the nether parts of the earth' and 'hell,' signifying its complete destruction and removal from the living, joining those who have died.
  • Warning to Egypt (Pharaoh)The entire elaborate parable serves as a direct and severe warning to Pharaoh and Egypt, indicating that their pride and perceived greatness will lead to a similar catastrophic downfall and judgment.
  • Cosmic MourningThe fall of the great cedar is depicted with imagery of the deep being covered, floods restrained, and Lebanon mourning, suggesting a profound and widespread impact beyond just the immediate nation.